BOOKLET FOR AGES 8-10

Welcome to Montezuma National 

Wildlife Refuge!

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge was established on September 12, 1938 as a 

refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The refuge contains over 10,000 acres of protected lands and managed wetlands 

that provide resting, feeding, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and other migratory 

birds. Montezuma is situated in the middle of one of the most active flight lanes in 

the Atlantic Flyway.

The activities in this booklet offer you an opportunity to explore the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. You and your family can 

learn more about the history of the refuge and about the role of the refuge in preserving the natural resources needed for 

migratory birds.

Use the informational displays in the Visitor Center, the one-mile long Seneca Trail, and the observation tower. If you find 

anything in this booklet difficult, please ask someone in the visitor center for assistance. 

The Junior Refuge Manager certificate and badge will be earned upon successful completion of the activities in this booklet. 

When you are done with all of the activities bring the booklet to a Visitor Center Volunteer. The volunteer will discuss the 

activities with you and then you will be awarded your certificate and badge.

Enjoy your visit to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge!

Role of Adults: This booklet is a family activity. Please allow the child to answer the questions in their own words. 

After the activities are completed, an adult should review the activity with the child.

 NAME __________________________________________________

Activities booklet created by Nancy Stocker
DIRECTIONS:

The National 

Wildlife Refuge 

System was 

created to 

provide a chain of 

stepping-stones 

for birds along 

their migratory 

path. Using the 

key, label the 

migratory paths 

of the bald eagle, 

the cerulean 

warbler, and the 

wood duck.

KEY:

Bald Eagle = = = = = = = = = = = In blue

Cerulean Warbler - - - - - - - - - - In red

Wood Duck In black 

ACTIVITY 1 -Using the interactive map located in the 

visitor center, complete this activity to learn about the 

flight paths of three migratory birds.

Bald Eagle Cerulean Warbler

Wood Duck 1
2

ACTIVITY 2 WOOD DUCK FACTS OR FICTION

Decide if each statement is a fact or if the statement is fiction. Write the words fact or fiction on the lines before 

each statement. Use the displays in the visitor center to answer this section.

_________________ Wood ducks only live in man- made boxes.

_________________ Wood ducks cannot bring food to their young.

_________________ Wood duck moms push their babies out of the nest.

_________________ Wood duck babies can “bounce” because they are lightweight and covered with fluffy down.

_________________ Wood duck babies jump to the ground 24 hours after hatching.

ACTIVITY 3 Use this CODE to solve (decode) the statement on the following page.

Robin

A

Blue jay

B

Cardinal

C

Duck

D

Eagle

E

Gold finch

F

Goose

G

Heron

H

Owl

I

grasshopper

J

dragonfly

K

ladybug

L

mosquito

M

ant

N

bee

O

fly

P

Japanese 

beetle

Q

butterfly

R

daffodil

S

tulips

T

rose

U

violet

V

daisy

W

marigold

X

petunia

Y

sunflower

Z

iris

&
Use the code on the previous page to find the Purpose of a National Wildlife Refuge.

 

 

 

 

 

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ACTIVITY 4

Walk the Seneca Trail and complete the following activities.

Stop at the Centennial Viewing Platform(next to the tower) to answer the following questions.

1. Why are the water levels regulated at Montezuma Wildlife Refuge?

2. How are the grasslands cared for or managed at Montezuma Wildlife Refuge?

**********************************************************************************************

ACTIVITY 5 

Look through a birding scope on the visitor center deck to locate a bird in the viewfinder.

Sketch what you see.

What type of bird do you think 

you are sketching? 

______________________________________

Compare your drawing 

to pictures in a bird 

guidebook to see if you 

made the correct 

identification. 

(books are located at the 

visitor center desk)

Based on your picture 

and the guidebook, what 

bird did you see?

____________________________

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ACTIVITY 6 

Take a walk on the Seneca Trail

Play Tic Tac Trail

Put an X over each of the natural wonders that you see as you walk the loop trail.

Use your observational skills!

(Get three is a row – diagonally, vertically, or horizontally, or as many as you can)

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CERTIFICATE

OF ACHEIVEMENT

Awarded to

For successfully completing the requirements to become a

Volunteer signature Date